Three Sisters

dreams of yore.⁠ ⁠…” While he is speaking Andrey enters quietly with a book, and sits by the table. Tuzenbach I shall work. Chebutikin Going with Irina into the dining-room. And the food was also real Caucasian onion soup, and, for a roast, some chehartma. Soleni Cheremsha3 isn’t meat at all, but a plant something like an onion. Chebutikin No, my angel. Chehartma isn’t onion, but roast mutton. Soleni And I tell you, chehartma⁠—is a sort of onion. Chebutikin And I tell you, chehartma⁠—is mutton. Soleni And I tell you, cheremsha⁠—is a sort of onion. Chebutikin What’s the use of arguing! You’ve never been in the Caucasus, and never ate any chehartma. Soleni I never ate it, because I hate it. It smells like garlic. Andrey Imploring. Please, please! I ask you! Tuzenbach When are the entertainers coming? Irina They promised for about nine; that is, quite soon. Tuzenbach

Embraces Andrey.

“Oh my house, my house, my new-built house.”

Andrey Dances and sings. “Newly-built of maple-wood.” Chebutikin

Dances.

“Its walls are like a sieve!”

Laughter.

Tuzenbach Kisses Andrey. Hang it all, let’s drink. Andrey, old boy, let’s drink with you. And I’ll go with you, Andrey, to the University of Moscow. Soleni Which one? There are two universities in Moscow. Andrey There’s one university in Moscow. Soleni Two, I tell you. Andrey Don’t care if there are three. So much the better. Soleni There are two universities in Moscow! There are murmurs and “hushes.” There are two universities in Moscow, the old one and the new one. And if you don’t like to listen, if my words annoy you, then I need not speak. I can even go into another room.⁠ ⁠… Exit. Tuzenbach Bravo, bravo! Laughs. Come on, now. I’m going to play. Funny man, Soleni.⁠ ⁠… Goes to the piano and plays a waltz. Masha Dancing solo. The Baron’s drunk, the Baron’s drunk, the Baron’s drunk! Natasha comes in. Natasha To Chebutikin. Ivan Romanovitch! Says something to Chebutikin, then goes out quietly; Chebutikin touches Tuzenbach on the shoulder and whispers something to him. Irina What is it? Chebutikin Time for us to go. Goodbye. Tuzenbach Good night. It’s time we went. Irina But, really, the entertainers? Andrey In confusion. There won’t be any entertainers. You see, dear, Natasha says that Bobby isn’t quite well, and so.⁠ ⁠… In a word, I don’t care, and it’s absolutely all one to me. Irina Shrugging her shoulders. Bobby ill! Masha What is she thinking of! Well, if they are sent home, I suppose they must go. To Irina. Bobby’s all right, it’s she herself.⁠ ⁠… Here! Taps her forehead. Little bourgeoise! Andrey goes to his room through the right-hand door, Chebutikin follows him. In the dining-room they are saying goodbye. Fedotik What a shame! I was expecting to spend the evening here, but of course, if the little baby is ill⁠ ⁠… I’ll bring him some toys tomorrow. Rode Loudly. I slept late after dinner today because I thought I was going to dance all night. It’s only nine o’clock now! Masha Let’s go into the street, we can talk there. Then we can settle things. Goodbyes and good nights are heard. Tuzenbach’s merry laughter is heard. (All go out.) Anfisa and the maid clear the table, and put out the lights. (The nurse sings.) Andrey, wearing an overcoat and a hat, and Chebutikin enter silently. Chebutikin I never managed to get married because my life flashed by like lightning, and because I was madly in love with your mother, who was married. Andrey One shouldn’t marry. One shouldn’t, because it’s dull. Chebutikin So there I am, in my loneliness. Say what you will, loneliness is a terrible thing, old fellow.⁠ ⁠… Though really⁠ ⁠… of course, it absolutely doesn’t matter! Andrey Let’s be quicker. Chebutikin What are you in such a hurry for? We shall be in time. Andrey I’m afraid my wife may stop me. Chebutikin Ah! Andrey I shan’t play tonight, I shall only sit and look on. I don’t feel very well.⁠ ⁠… What am I to do for my asthma, Ivan Romanovitch? Chebutikin Don’t ask me! I don’t remember, old fellow, I don’t know. Andrey Let’s go through the kitchen. They go out. A bell rings, then a second time; voices and laughter are heard. Irina Enters. What’s that? Anfisa Whispers. The entertainers! Bell. Irina Tell them there’s nobody at home, nurse. They must excuse us. Anfisa goes out. Irina walks about the room deep in thought; she is excited. Soleni enters. Soleni In surprise. There’s nobody here.⁠ ⁠… Where are they all? Irina They’ve gone home. Soleni How strange. Are you here alone? Irina Yes, alone. A pause. Goodbye. Soleni Just now I behaved tactlessly, with insufficient reserve. But you are not like all the others, you are noble and pure, you can see the truth.⁠ ⁠… You alone can understand me. I love you, deeply, beyond measure, I love you. Irina Goodbye! Go away. Soleni I cannot live without you. Follows her. Oh, my happiness! Through his tears. Oh, joy! Wonderful, marvellous, glorious eyes, such as I have never seen before.⁠ ⁠… Irina Coldly. Stop it, Vassili Vassilevitch! Soleni This is the first time I speak to you of love, and it is as if I am no longer on the earth, but on another planet. Wipes his forehead. Well, never mind. I can’t make you love me by force, of course⁠ ⁠… but I don’t intend to have any more-favoured rivals.⁠ ⁠… No⁠ ⁠… I swear to you by all the saints, I shall kill my rival.⁠ ⁠… Oh, beautiful one! Natasha enters with a candle; she looks in through one door, then through another, and goes past the door leading to her husband’s room. Natasha Here’s Andrey. Let him go on reading. Excuse me, Vassili Vassilevitch, I did not know you were here; I am engaged in domesticities. Soleni It’s all the same to me. Goodbye! Exit. Natasha You’re so tired, my poor dear girl! Kisses Irina. If you only went to bed earlier. Irina Is Bobby asleep? Natasha Yes, but restlessly. By the way, dear,